Welcome, New York Monopoly Players!

Purpose? Have some fun playing this wonderful game!
Who should join? Anyone who knows the rules.

A brief history of how this
game began: Patented by Liz Magie on Jan. 4, 1905, as The Landlord's Game. Many of the features of Monopoly appeared there first.
(Go to the Files section here to see images of the creator's patent. [From http://inventors.about.com/library/inventors/bllandlordga...])

In 1935 it was morphed into Monopoly by Charles Darrow, who usually gets the credit for all the ideas.

The original patent can be read at http://tt.tf/gamehist/rules/lg-p04.html. I love her instruction that players who won't obey the rules are to go to jail! And stay there till they pay a fine! (LOL. I picture her with a loaded revolver next to the Bank box)

For collectors (from Steve): Fascinating information on the myriad variations around the world. E.g. In Nigeria, it's called Nigerpoly and has gas stations in place of the railroads. A young boy is shown behind the bars of the Jail. (I wonder...)

Well worth exploring.

http://muurkrant.nl/monopoly/

Wayne
P.S. The Landlord's Game ["Das/l' Original Anno 1904"] was re-issued in German and French, in 1987. Hooray!